Napoli lifts Red Sox over Tigers

Boston's Mike Napoli, right, hits a home run in the second inning during Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

As they take to the road for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series facing elimination, the Detroit Tigers also find themselves facing a case of déjà vu.

Two years ago in the ALCS, they left for Texas down 3-2 and didn’t win another game.

There’s one other common trait from that set who is part of this year’s mix, and Thursday, he was the difference maker in Game 5.

First baseman Mike Napoli homered and doubled and scored two runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 4-3 victory over the Tigers Thursday at Comerica Park in Game 5 of the ALCS, bringing them to within a win of their third trip to the World Series since 2004.

Two years earlier, Napoli played first base for the Rangers, but he certainly didn’t play as significant a role in the outcome as the impact he’s made thus far in this series.

Boston won two of three games played this week at Comerica Park, and Napoli was a big reason why the Red Sox came out ahead on both nights.

It was his homer in Game 3 off Justin Verlander that provided the only run in Boston’s 1-0 victory, but as impressive as that clout was, it paled in comparison to the moon shot he struck Thursday off Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez to give Boston a 1-0 advantage in what turned out to be a three-run second inning.

Napoli – who with his scruffy beard looks like a stand-in for Duck Dynasty – launched a rocket to straightaway centre field that looked like it might not return to earth until it arrived in South Detroit, a.k.a. Windsor.

When it finally did come out of orbit, the announced distance was measured at 445 feet, though that seemed significantly short of the mark.

In the 2011 ALCS, Napoli delivered a solid performance as Texas eliminated the Tigers in six games, batting .292 (seven-for-24), but driving only in a solitary run.

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